Charlene Howard: Manifesting the Kingdom

Charlene Howard, Carroll instructor, was awarded the Manifesting the Kingdom Award by the Archdiocese of Washington.

Charlene Howard is one of Carroll's secret gems. Constantly working in the shadows to help keep the fabric of our day to day closely knit, she now has the spotlight. The Archdiocese of Washington recently presented Mrs. Howard with the Manifesting the Kingdom Award for her works in both her parish and here at Carroll.

The organization bestows the award to, "those who serve the Church in an exceptional manner revealing the presence of Jesus Christ and reflecting in particular what it means to live out the mission of the New Evangelization," at various parishes, schools, and service organizations. Mrs. Howard is a constant ray of light who exudes the teachings of Christ through her daily actions. She was nominated by Msgr. Raymond East, a pastor at St. Teresa of Avila, where Mrs. Howard worships, and by Archbishop Carroll as well. "I was completely shocked," she responded when asked about her initial reaction to the news. But it comes as no surprise to the parishioners at St. Teresa's, nor the students and faculty at Carroll. Mrs. Howard has served Carroll in many ways, and is currently the instructor for two courses, Social Justice and Catholicism. "Teaching these students...that's why I'm here," she exclaims when talking about the passion she has for her students. She is also the coordinator for the LIONS DENS program, a mentorship experience for freshmen and sophomores that promotes academic self-efficacy, problem solving, and academic goal setting. This program establishes relationships between students and volunteers from the Order of Malta and creates unique activities to cultivate personal growth.

Mrs. Howard received the award at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on January 8, 2017 alongside the other recipients.